Palestinians again nix coexistence conference

Political activists say they oppose conference because it is a form of “normalization” between Israel and the Palestinians.

Sari Nusseibeh 224.88.
(photo credit:Ariel Jerozolimski)

For the second day in a row, Palestinians thwarted an attempt by Israeli and
Palestinian peace activists to hold a conference – this time in Beit Jala, near
Bethlehem.

On Monday, a similar conference organized by the Israeli
Palestinian Confederation [IPC] was canceled at the last minute after
Palestinian protesters staged a demonstration in front of the east Jerusalem
hotel where the gathering was supposed to take place.

The demonstrators
said they were opposed to the conference because it was a form of
“normalization” between Israel and the Palestinians.

The protesters
belonged to various Palestinian political groups.

The event at the
Ambassador Hotel in Sheikh Jarrah was canceled after some of the protesters
entered the conference hall and confiscated booklets and documents prepared by
the IPC.

The protesters also demanded that the owner of the hotel
immediately cancel the conference.

Al-Quds University President Sari
Nusseibeh, who was supposed to participate in Monday’s conference, did not show
up, apparently after being warned that the protesters might try to harm him
physically.

The demonstrators shouted slogans against Nusseibeh, accusing
him of spearheading efforts to normalize relations between Israelis and
Palestinians.

On Tuesday, a similar protest was held in Beit Jala, where
the IPC was planning to hold its second conference.

However, this event
was also called off out of fear for the safety of the
participants.

Scores of Palestinians who gathered outside the Beit Jala
conference hall shouted slogans strongly condemning the organizers and
threatening to thwart the conference.